Principles of Ecocriticism As a Lens of Critical Theory Adapted from “What is Ecocriticism?” by Beth Shalom of Longwood University and The Ecocriticism Reader edited by Cheryll Glotfelty and Harold Fromm

We need the Earth But the Earth doesn’t need us

Ecocriticism Defined Ecocriticism is a lens of literary theory which is an “Earth-centered approach to literary studies” (Glotfelty xviii). The central premise of an ecocritical perspective is that human culture is connected to the physical world, and humans inevitably affect and are affected by the natural world. Where Marxism is primarily concerns with power relationships between people and social classes, ecocriticism is concerned with the power humans and human language/society exert over the natural world.

Guiding Questions in an Ecocritical Reading: What role does the physical setting play in the plot of this novel? Are the values expressed in this [text] consistent with ecological wisdom? How do our metaphors of the land influence the way we treat it? How do environmental crises seep through into popular culture? (e.g. into movies, popular books, TV shows) What can the principles and research behind the science of ecology reveal about literature socially and symbolically? (Glotfelty xvii-xix)

Interconnections Ecocriticism is naturally an interdisciplinary approach; it must take scientific, social, and artistic concerns into consideration simultaneously. Ecocriticism also considers nature and culture to be closely (if sometimes antagonistically) connected, particularly in regards to the formation of language and literature It “negotiates between the human and the non-human” (Glotfelty xix).

Interconnetions Continued Ecocriticism seeks to “de-center” humans within their ecosystem: to understand that we are part of the ecosystem, but we are not its crucial center We cannot survive without our ecosystem, but in many ways our ecosystem can survive without us Return to earlier quote: We need the Earth, but the Earth doesn’t need us

Why Study Ecocriticism? Though ecocriticism arguably stretches back at least as far as Henry David Thoreau in 1800’s, it is an increasingly relevant lens of theory. We now understand enough about our world to know that our resources are limited, and our harm to the environment is measurable. If nothing changes, we are headed for – or even in the middle of – an ecological crisis. We may not know when it is coming or exactly what it will be, but we know too much to pretend it isn’t in our path.

Why Study Ecocriticism? “Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves. The Earth is the only world known so far to harbor life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate. Visit, yes. Settle, not yet. Like it or not, for the moment the Earth is where we make our stand. It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known.”

Ecocriticism Questions for Our Unit Our exploration of ecocriticism will be guided by the following questions: How is nature affect humanity? How is it affected by humanity? How can humanity cause ecological crises? How can we humanity avoid them? How are setting and place operating in the text? (If nature is absent, why is it absent? What does imply?) What can ecology and science more broadly reveal about literature? What can literature reveal about science? What is our responsibility as inheritors of the Earth?

Practice Activity Using Feed as an example text, consider the following with your partner and be prepared to share: In what sort of environments in the novel usually set? How is nature depicted in the novel? How is nature affected by humans? How are humans effected by the environment? Are themes of environmental inheritance and responsibility present in the novel? Do you feel that presence/absence is significant for the novel’s meaning? 5 minutes to talk and write, 5 to share